The oat milk craze has Chester County coffee shops adjusting their menus while local dairy farmers take a hit. And Gen Z is driving the trend. The New York Times reported that Gen Z bought 20 percent less dairy milk over the past year, writes Erin McCarthy for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

This is much to the chagrin of Cochranville dairy farmer Duane Hershey. He says that cow’s milk has suffered due to an abundance of alternative milk options.  

“You go into a grocery store, there’s 643 different drink choices,” he said.

Turk’s Head in West Chester is also seeing the shift. Manager Carly Ackerman says that usually college students opt for non-dairy alternatives, such as oat or almond.  

Ackerman says that she sees a 50/50 split between dairy and alternative milk orders. The trend is due to a lot of factors, including environmental consciousness. Others have cited feeling less bloated and having clearer skin after making the pivot to alternative options.  

Since Gen Z has entered the workforce, this fad seems to be here to stay. However, oat milk comes with a price tag. It is also not the only alternative milk option. Some local cafes incorporate sesame, pistachio, and macadamia milks on their menus. 

 Read more about the oat milk fad’s impact in Chester County in The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

How to make Oat Milk.